{"id":774569,"date":"2026-07-02T15:49:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T15:49:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/774569\/"},"modified":"2026-07-02T15:49:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T15:49:12","slug":"ufc-shares-jaw-dropping-angle-of-iconic-max-holloway-ko-before-conor-mcgregor-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/774569\/","title":{"rendered":"UFC Shares Jaw-Dropping Angle of Iconic Max Holloway KO Before Conor McGregor Fight"},"content":{"rendered":"

The UFC has given fans the chance to relive Max Holloway\u2019s iconic knockout of Justin Gaethje ahead of his rematch with Conor McGregor at UFC 329. <\/p>\n

Provided that the fight isn\u2019t derailed by a late injury like his last scheduled return bout against Michael Chandler in 2024, next weekend will see former two-division UFC titleholder McGregor step into the cage<\/a> to compete for the first time in five years. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Notorious\u201d will headline UFC 329 opposite his former opponent Holloway, who first fought McGregor in 2013 as a 21-year-old and dropped a unanimous decision in what was the Irishman\u2019s second UFC appearance. <\/p>\n

Watch Max Holloway Sleep Justin Gaethje Ahead of UFC 329<\/p>\n

Since that loss to McGregor, Holloway has solidified himself as a lock for the UFC Hall of Fame with his fan-friendly style and reigns with both the UFC\u2019s featherweight and \u201cBMF\u201d titles. <\/p>\n

\u201cBlessed\u201d claimed the \u201cBMF\u201d belt at UFC 300 with one of the most iconic knockouts in UFC history<\/a>. Ahead of Holloway\u2019s rematch with McGregor, the UFC has shared a cageside angle of the Hawaiian sleeping Justin Gaethje in the very last second of their five-round \u201cBMF\u201d fight. <\/p>\n

COLD \ud83e\udd76\ud83d\udc47 How about this angle of that @BlessedMMA<\/a> knockout?! \ud83c\udf38 #UFC329<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/lAErvk5gEt<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) July 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The victory has aged considerably well for Holloway, as Gaethje went on to take a second win over recent UFC Baku headliner Rafael Fiziev<\/a> before he handed Paddy Pimblett his first UFC loss at UFC 324<\/a> and claimed the promotion\u2019s interim lightweight belt for the second time. <\/p>\n

\"Justin<\/p>\n

Justin Gaethje (blue gloves) celebrates after winning the UFC Freedom 250 fight against Ilia Topuria (not pictured) at the White House South Lawn. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

That win over Pimblett set the stage for a lightweight title unification bout against Ilia Topuria at the UFC White House event, where Gaethje shattered Topuria\u2019s undefeated record with one of the most incredible upsets in UFC history<\/a>. <\/p>\n

“Blessed” Lost the UFC “BMF” Title to Charles Oliveira in March<\/p>\n

After claiming the \u201cBMF\u201d belt from Gaethje, Holloway challenged Topuria in a bid to reclaim the UFC featherweight belt but suffered the first knockout loss of his career. <\/p>\n

\"Ilia<\/p>\n

Ilia Topuria (red gloves) looks on prior to his fight against Justin Gaethje (not pictured) during the UFC Freedom 250 at the White House South Lawn. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

Topuria elected to vacate the featherweight belt and move up to lightweight following that win, while Holloway rebounded by successfully defending the \u201cBMF\u201d belt against Dustin Poirier in the latter fighter\u2019s retirement bout <\/a>at UFC 318. <\/p>\n

\"Max<\/p>\n

Max Holloway (red gloves) enters the Octagon before the fight against Charles Oliveira (blue gloves) during UFC 326 at T-Mobile Arena. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

The 34-year-old was soundly out grappled by Charles Oliveira in his last outing at UFC 326 and relinquished the \u201cBMF\u201d title to the Brazilian, but Holloway presumably won\u2019t have to worry about being taken down when he and McGregor headline UFC 329. <\/p>\n

Can Conor McGregor Defeat Holloway in UFC Return Fight?<\/p>\n

McGregor did utilize takedowns to help defeat Holloway in their first meeting after injuring his knee early in the fight, but most fans hoping to see \u201cThe Notorious\u201d to get his hand raised in his UFC return are almost certainly expecting things to end via knockout. <\/p>\n

\"Conor<\/p>\n

Conor McGregor reacts during weigh-ins for UFC 264 at T-Mobile Arena. | USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n

The Irishman\u2019s win over Holloway was the second in what eventually turned into seven-straight victories to kick off McGregor\u2019s UFC career. That run was capped off by his legendary 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo to win the UFC featherweight title before he was famously upset by Nate Diaz at UFC 196 in the first of back-to-back meetings between the two men. <\/p>\n

\"Conor<\/p>\n

Conor McGregor is carried off on a stretcher following an injury in his loss against Dustin Poirier during UFC 264 at T-Mobile Arena. | USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n

McGregor\u2019s last win came when he stopped Donald \u201cCowboy\u201d Cerrone in just 40 seconds in 2020. The following year, future UFC Hall of Famer Poirier stopped the Irishman with strikes in their rematch before a broken ankle in their trilogy fight left McGregor on a two-fight skid and kicked off what has become a five-year layoff. <\/p>\n

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